Friday, 28 September 2007

There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.

SO wrote the Bard of Avon in Julius Caesar, but it could well be the motto adopted from the outcome of the Caithness Conference: Beyond Dounreay held in Thurso a fortnight ago.

All whom I spoke to afterwards were impressed by the positive atmosphere, the can-do spirit. Certainly there was a realistic air that a new beginning is needed and that all responsible, whether in London and Scottish governments or local agencies, have to make sure a firm partnership puts the businesses with all the skills to the forefront.

The UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks took the sensible step of visiting the European Marine Energy Centre in Stromness before going to Dounreay and then the opening session of the Thurso conference. He showed support for marine renewables but, as is the UK position, stressed that it is not a case of "renewables versus nuclear". He told the Orkney papers that we need more energy security, but a diversity of energy supply in the future with the early element of renewables coming from on and offshore wind as well as the Labour Government's preferred option for new nuclear build in its present consultation. The lesson is Caithness must work in partnership with Orkney.

When he got to Caithness, Mr Wicks felt sure that access to the grid would be achieved by energy producers in the Far North. Why he said this became clear later in the day, though not directly in the conference proceedings. However, the tone of the conference seemed clear to me. No-one in authority believes that new nuclear stations will be built here. They will be built in England, near to main population centres, and renewables will be a good way to use the great skills base at present involved in nuclear decommissioning hereabouts.

Therefore the key questions are how we can develop our huge tidal resources in the Pentland Firth and how we can ensure a major grid connection to market that infinite source of clean power.

The day Mr Wicks was in Orkney, Highlands and Islands Enterprise released a most insightful consultation paper. It showed up the scandalous proposals by Ofgem that would mean new sources of power in this area costing thirty times more to connect to the grid than is the case in Denmark. But, on the very day of the conference, Ofgem curiously signalled a six-month review of its punitive proposals – what a coincidence.

That's why I lodged a motion in Parliament which has yet to be signed by other than SNP MSPs. Also I gained a successful supplementary question a week ago at First Minister's Questions. Alex Salmond was known to be meeting Ofgem later that day and was quite clear that our future plans for clean energy production require a climb-down by the London Government's regulator. The First Minister's answer made it crystal clear: grid connection will not go away. It's another example of why the national conversation on full powers for the Scottish Government has a direct impact here in Caithness.

ESTABLISHING the actual costs of full commercialisation of tidal power is complex but a far from impossible task. I believe it was John Farquhar of the NDA, speaking at the conference, who guesstimated between one and two billion pounds, or the equivalent of the costs of a new nuclear station. I am seeking the guidance of Scottish Ministers and will try to establish as accurate a figure as I can get. Of course, the taxpayer directly underwrote the building of Dounreay, but today a mix of private and public funds will be required.

Also one part of the speech from the Scotland Office Minister David Cairns is memorable. He flew into Caithness to give the closing conference speech and pointed out that many communities seeking regeneration thought the route was via renewables. He cautioned against that route for some places but in contrast thought it a major prospect here. He also thought there was little reason for the continued existence of some former industrial communities but that Caithness was different. We know it is resource-rich and has every right to expect a bright future if we are focused.

FLOODING was another issue debated in Parliament last week. My contribution highlighted the inordinate time it has taken to resolve some of the consequences of last October's storms. A case in point is the cemetery footbridge over the River Thurso. It took the Highland Council until May to lodge a £200,000 bridge replacement claim in a bigger £1.6 million bid. Even so, it still awaits the wheels of civil service processes to put a report on Ministers' desks.

The promise of a Flooding Bill next year to modernise outdated practices and government responses has had a warm cross-party welcome. But in every part of the country, low-lying areas, river valleys and flood plains as well as vulnerable coasts will come under greater threat as more frequent severe weather events pile in.

Appropriately the Bard concluded:

On such a full sea are we now afloat,And we must take the current when it serves,Or lose our ventures.

I believe that harnessing the tides and managing the floods will occupy every nation's government. For our sake in Caithness, Scotland must not be diverted from substantial investment in both or else people here will "lose our ventures".

There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.

SO wrote the Bard of Avon in Julius Caesar, but it could well be the motto adopted from the outcome of the Caithness Conference: Beyond Dounreay held in Thurso a fortnight ago.

All whom I spoke to afterwards were impressed by the positive atmosphere, the can-do spirit. Certainly there was a realistic air that a new beginning is needed and that all responsible, whether in London and Scottish governments or local agencies, have to make sure a firm partnership puts the businesses with all the skills to the forefront.

The UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks took the sensible step of visiting the European Marine Energy Centre in Stromness before going to Dounreay and then the opening session of the Thurso conference. He showed support for marine renewables but, as is the UK position, stressed that it is not a case of "renewables versus nuclear". He told the Orkney papers that we need more energy security, but a diversity of energy supply in the future with the early element of renewables coming from on and offshore wind as well as the Labour Government's preferred option for new nuclear build in its present consultation. The lesson is Caithness must work in partnership with Orkney.

When he got to Caithness, Mr Wicks felt sure that access to the grid would be achieved by energy producers in the Far North. Why he said this became clear later in the day, though not directly in the conference proceedings. However, the tone of the conference seemed clear to me. No-one in authority believes that new nuclear stations will be built here. They will be built in England, near to main population centres, and renewables will be a good way to use the great skills base at present involved in nuclear decommissioning hereabouts.

Therefore the key questions are how we can develop our huge tidal resources in the Pentland Firth and how we can ensure a major grid connection to market that infinite source of clean power.

The day Mr Wicks was in Orkney, Highlands and Islands Enterprise released a most insightful consultation paper. It showed up the scandalous proposals by Ofgem that would mean new sources of power in this area costing thirty times more to connect to the grid than is the case in Denmark. But, on the very day of the conference, Ofgem curiously signalled a six-month review of its punitive proposals – what a coincidence.

That's why I lodged a motion in Parliament which has yet to be signed by other than SNP MSPs. Also I gained a successful supplementary question a week ago at First Minister's Questions. Alex Salmond was known to be meeting Ofgem later that day and was quite clear that our future plans for clean energy production require a climb-down by the London Government's regulator. The First Minister's answer made it crystal clear: grid connection will not go away. It's another example of why the national conversation on full powers for the Scottish Government has a direct impact here in Caithness.

ESTABLISHING the actual costs of full commercialisation of tidal power is complex but a far from impossible task. I believe it was John Farquhar of the NDA, speaking at the conference, who guesstimated between one and two billion pounds, or the equivalent of the costs of a new nuclear station. I am seeking the guidance of Scottish Ministers and will try to establish as accurate a figure as I can get. Of course, the taxpayer directly underwrote the building of Dounreay, but today a mix of private and public funds will be required.

Also one part of the speech from the Scotland Office Minister David Cairns is memorable. He flew into Caithness to give the closing conference speech and pointed out that many communities seeking regeneration thought the route was via renewables. He cautioned against that route for some places but in contrast thought it a major prospect here. He also thought there was little reason for the continued existence of some former industrial communities but that Caithness was different. We know it is resource-rich and has every right to expect a bright future if we are focused.

FLOODING was another issue debated in Parliament last week. My contribution highlighted the inordinate time it has taken to resolve some of the consequences of last October's storms. A case in point is the cemetery footbridge over the River Thurso. It took the Highland Council until May to lodge a £200,000 bridge replacement claim in a bigger £1.6 million bid. Even so, it still awaits the wheels of civil service processes to put a report on Ministers' desks.

The promise of a Flooding Bill next year to modernise outdated practices and government responses has had a warm cross-party welcome. But in every part of the country, low-lying areas, river valleys and flood plains as well as vulnerable coasts will come under greater threat as more frequent severe weather events pile in.

Appropriately the Bard concluded:

On such a full sea are we now afloat,And we must take the current when it serves,Or lose our ventures.

I believe that harnessing the tides and managing the floods will occupy every nation's government. For our sake in Caithness, Scotland must not be diverted from substantial investment in both or else people here will "lose our ventures".

I WAS very glad to take part in the short debate on the Scottish Government's programme for this session.

Speaking last Wednesday, I emphasised one of the key non-legislative moves which is open to the SNP administration – namely, taking control of the day-to-day activities of the Crown Estate Commission in Scotland.

Before the elections in May, the Highland Council launched a report by the Crown Estate Review Working Group which was backed by all Highlands and Islands councils. Now that the new ministers are getting to grips with waves of papers, I think it is time for them to get to grips with the shadowy body that rules our waves. I'm sure that already has cross-party support.

I asked the Government to prioritise the retrieval of the Crown Estate Commission (CEC) powers that could be administered in Scotland just like the Forestry Commission is, i.e. with a separate Scottish set-up. When devolution came along the Crown Estate, unlike the Forestry Commission, retreated into its London redoubt. Yet its actions affect inshore and seashore life day and daily, mainly as a big financial drag for little return to local communities.

The way the Crown Estate manages Scotland's seabed and foreshore creates problems for marine renewable energy development and with "taxation" on projects beyond the twelve-mile limit; even worse, the vast bulk of the CEC levy goes straight to the Treasury. Addressing the issue within the existing devolution set-up would be possible, and an immediate benefit could be had for our harbours such as Scrabster and Wick, but also every small quay and jetty on the coast. Some 80 per cent of Scotland's harbours are managed by the Scottish Government, local authorities and trust ports in the public interest – that's why we must end the Crown Estate taking revenue from us. This would be major bonus to all sea-users.

*

FOOT-and-mouth disease seeping through the drains at Pirbright in Surrey has dampened a potentially good year for livestock production. On my travels I've heard nothing but praise from farmers, crofters and red-meat processors across the North who welcomed the early lifting of the movement and sales bans. They have congratulated the Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead and his professionals for their moves to minimise disruption in places so far from the outbreak.

In a statement last week in Holyrood, Richard explained that investigations about any possible traffic in hoofed animals from Surrey to Scotland drew a blank. So the inquiry under Professor Scudamore set to look into the whole outbreak will consider the point I raised, i.e. at the moment Scotland is part of one British epidemiological unit in relation to exotic disease. Could he consider, I asked, in terms of our economic interests and biosecurity, if it would it be practical and beneficial to explore the prospects of Scotland being treated by the EU as an epidemiological unit?

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment replied that regionalisation had been considered over the past few weeks and many risk issues had been highlighted.

It is important for Professor Scudamore to analyse these. However, we must recognise that the reason why Great Britain is identified as one epidemiological unit is because of the cross-border trade and the fact that there are no natural boundaries.

Since the outbreak was six hundred miles from Caithness, it was very different from the events of 2001 when the cause of the FMD mass pyres stemmed from infected meat found in the north-east of England. So the National Conversation on Scotland's constitutional future needs to tackle such cross-border issues. I'm glad to say that close co-operation between the SNP Government in Edinburgh and the Labour Government in London speeded the end of the emergency.

*

MAKING the case for local production and consumption of food this Scottish Food Fortnight is in many minds and, I hope, stomachs. What with the proven scientific hazards of additives to children's behaviour and the lax biosecurity standards of imported meat produced in South America and South-East Asia, it was a great pleasure to attend the Scottish Crofting Foundation AGM in Dingwall last Friday which featured the schools project Planting to Plate.

This involved four schools – Kilchoan primary in Ardnamurchan, Sgoil nan Loch from Lewis, Whalsay from Shetland and Farr school on the north coast. They collaborated with local crofters and learned about the history of local food culture, dug out lazy beds and gardens, ate their own produce, had lessons on healthy diets, measured the health of the soil they planted in, recognised the effects on the local environment and learned about the reduction of their carbon footprint and food miles through their efforts.

Along with the crofting delegates the children marvelled at Margaret Bennett's description of life on a Skye croft in the 1950s when nothing was wasted. Later that day their celebration of planting and eating local food came to a climax at Inverness High School, from which the produce of its own school garden was served up; it is now sold at farmers' markets and is included in their own school meals.

I caught up with Pam Rodway, who works for the Soil Association and is a renowned cheese-maker from Moray in her own right. She told me that all concerned had much enjoyed this project and that a review could decide to roll it out to other schools.

Farr school's students have set a benchmark for Caithness and Sutherland primary and secondary schools to dig for health and culinary victory.

I was elected Highlands & Islands MSP in 2003. I am a member of the Parliament's Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee as well as the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee. I am also a historian, musician, author and traditional music festival organiser.
Scots, Gaelic and the Traditional Arts are core interests as are nuclear disarmament, affordable housing and saving consultant led services in the NHS.
I was born and educated in Glasgow, and attended Dundee University and Education College. As a former Modern Studies teacher much of my professional life was spent teaching at the Invergordon and Alness Academies as the Principal Teacher of Guidance. Since early retirement, or early ‘relifement’ as I like to call it, I have developed my historical training and skills by writing the book Plaids and Bandanas.
I have been a long time SNP activist and was a former District Councillor in Ross and Cromarty. I joined the SNP in 1966, was FSN President from 1970-1973 and have been a member of the SNP's National Council, Executive, and Cabinet.